As many as 364 nodal officers and 135 cluster officers will keep watch on villages and clusters for stubble-burning incidents this harvest season in Kapurthala.Deputy Commissioner Akash Bansal said on Thursday that the district administration had chalked out a comprehensive strategy to prevent stubble burning during the upcoming paddy harvesting season, with emphasis on scientific crop residue management, effective field-level monitoring and extensive awareness among farmers.Chairing a meeting to review preparedness for the paddy harvesting season, the DC said the administration was committed to ensuring maximum utilisation of in-situ and ex-situ crop residue management techniques and creating greater awareness among farmers about the environmental, health and agricultural consequences of stubble burning.The DC said approximately 7.5 lakh metric tonnes of paddy stubble was expected to be generated in Kapurthala district during the season. Of this, around 2.70 lakh MT would be managed through in-situ methods, while nearly 4.80 lakh MT would be handled through ex-situ management.The remaining crop residue would be channelised for productive utilisation in brick kilns, boilers and other suitable applications, thereby reducing the need for farmers to burn residue in the fields.He said farmers had access to around 4,000 crop residue management machines through Custom Hiring Centres, cooperative societies and farmer groups. These include balers, rakes, Super Seeders, Smart Seeders, Surface Seeders, Zero Drills, RMB Ploughs, mulchers, straw choppers, Super SMS, crop reapers, rotary slashers and tractors, among others. He said these machines would enable farmers to manage paddy residue scientifically and adopt suitable techniques for sowing the next crop without resorting to burning.The DC said 364 nodal officers and 135 cluster officers would be deployed to monitor respective villages and clusters. They would remain in regular contact with farmers, identify vulnerable areas and ensure timely intervention wherever there was a possibility of stubble burning. The officers have also been asked to maintain close coordination with Agriculture Department, local administration and other stakeholders.The DC said stubble burning not only contributes to air pollution but also causes damage to the agricultural ecosystem. Burning crop residue destroys or adversely affects valuable nutrients present in the soil, including nitrogen and other essential nutrients. He said that instead of treating paddy straw as waste, farmers should view it as a valuable agricultural resource.He stressed that clean air, healthy soil and sustainable agriculture are collective responsibilities.